The National Agricultural Show Committee has launched a raffle of a tractor worth over P159 000 to raise funds for next year’s agricultural show.

A raffle ticket cost P2.00 and the tractor is the first prize for the show.  Feed Centre Botswana donated the tractor as part of the company’s social responsibility. The raffle will continue until the draw during the national Agricultural Show scheduled for August 2011.

Through the raffle, the committee wants to raise funds for champion prizes for both district and the national agricultural shows.  The country usually holds 22 districts shows countrywide per annum.

Launching the raffle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Micus Chimbombi said it is not too early to launch the raffle because the task ahead of them is a daunting one as over P1.7 million has to be raised for champion prizes at districts and national show.

He invited all stakeholders; companies, institutions and individuals to take part in the agricultural show as demonstrated by Feed Centre Botswana.

“We usually ask companies to sponsor the sum total, pick either the livestock or the crop sub-sector or select a category or categories of interest.”

He said sponsoring show prizes offers private companies and parastatals the opportunity to support the national cause and simultaneously fulfill their corporate social responsibility.  

“We believe together we can grow the agricultural sector.”

The Permanent Secretary also informed his audience that it is not his ministry intention to continue running the agricultural shows, noting that the private sector has to take over that responsibility.  He said agricultural shows provided amongst others opportunities to learn.

Dr Chimbombi further apologised to the nation for the cancellation of the 2010 National Agricultural show due to the outbreak of diseases.

On his part, Managing Director of Feed Centre Botswana, Mr Vlado Rubezic said his company donated the tractor as part of its social responsibility and support the ministry’s efforts to help the country produce food. 

Earlier when welcoming guests, Senior Manager Corporate Services in the Ministry, Mrs Oemetse Nkoane thanked Feed Centre Botswana for its generosity by donating a tractor.